Parking fines for being late back to your car are nothing new.

But are you aware that some private companies are now issuing £60 fines to those who dawdle in their vehicles before they purchase a ticket.

Motorists in Kirklees and Calderdale are being warned about the new tactic to snare people who take their time to buy a parking ticket.

It comes after Hipperholme resident Elizabeth Townend was fined £60 despite paying for an hour’s parking at a private car park in Brighouse.

The housewife was furious when it emerged the penalty charge notice (PCN) was given because it took her too long to pay up.

HX Car Parking Management Ltd, who operate the site opposite Brighouse Health Centre, has a limit of 10 minutes from when the system logs a vehicle driving through the gate to the point when a ticket is paid for at the machine.

Signs at the car park on Lawson Road in Brighouse

It monitors arrivals and purchases using vehicle registration plate cameras, which it cross references with details entered into the ticket machine.

It told the Examiner it was 16 minutes from when Mrs Townend drove onto the premises at Lawson Road, to when she completed the purchase.

Mrs Townend said she didn’t rush to buy the ticket as she was unaware of the rule and was checking some paperwork to see how long her appointment was going to be before purchasing parking time.

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Her purchase was further delayed by a long queue and the machine rejecting her coins.

Despite highlighting these issues and the fact she was on their property for less than the hour she paid for, HX Car Parking Management has refused her appeal.

She said: “I have never used that car park before.

“I had a medical appointment and once I’d chosen a bay to park I looked at some paperwork to see how long the appointment would take.

“I turned round and I could see a big queue for the machine.

Signs at the car park on Lawson Road in Brighouse where Elizabeth Townend was fined

“I thought there’s no point just standing there so I’ll wait in the car until it’s gone down.

“When it had, I went up and put my coins in, but I had some problems.

“You have to enter your registration number and I couldn’t remember all of it so I went back to my car to make sure, as I didn’t want to get a ticket for getting it wrong.

“I then went back and the machine wouldn’t take my coins, it kept spitting them out.”

After she was finished with her appointment, Mrs Townend drove away.

Evidence from HX Car Parking Management’s cameras shows she was on site for a total of 55 minutes, five minutes less than the hour she paid for.

But because she missed the 10 minute threshold of paying for the ticket, the Huddersfield based company has refused to back down over the fine.

A spokesperson for HX Car Parking told the Examiner that the signs were very clear.

They said leaving within one hour did not excuse failing to purchase a ticket within the initial 10 minute grace period.

They commented: “The signage is clear regarding this and as her ticket was purchased 16 minutes after entering the car park, this is why she was issued with a PCN.”

Mrs Townend has now paid the ticket.